About the Research Foundation

Aim of the Foundation - A Cure for MS

The Trish Multiple Sclerosis Research Foundation has very specific aims for the research projects for which the money is being raised. The Foundation is focussed on achieving its goal, all our research funds being put towards an ultimate cure, in other words myelin protection, repair or restoration.

The Foundation is very determined to work hard and raise a great deal of money for research in the hope that others will not have to suffer as Trish Langsford did. If the legacy that Trish leaves has been a cure for this debilitating disease, she will not have suffered in vain. 

Why have a Research Foundation?

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic degenerative disease of the Central Nervous System and is the most common neurological disease that affects young adults. In MS sufferers the myelin, which encases the nerve fibres and assists in nerve function, becomes inflamed and damaged causing plaques or lesions of inflammation and the myelin is lost from many areas of the Central Nervous System.

The Foundation was set up because, watching Trish suffer in the nursing home with end stage MS, her family and friends decided to establish a Foundation named after Trish with the specific goal of working towards finding a cure for MS and eventually prevention.

Prior to Trish losing her brave fight, Professor John Pollard one of the Foundation’s Research Committee said, "Unfortunately Trish is in end-stage multiple sclerosis; she had the chronic progressive form of the disease and very sadly, no treatment that is found by our research or that of others is going to help Trish in this stage.  What is important is that we develop treatments for this disease to prevent patients reaching this end-stage disease."

Research Committee

The Foundation has a very eminent Research Committee to evaluate applications for research. Professor Pollard heads the Neurology department and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Sydney University, Emeritus Professor McLeod is his immediate predecessor, Professor Russell heads the Pathology Department and Doctor Walsh is Senior Neurologist at the same hospital.

The Foundation considers itself very fortunate to have such an eminent group of professionals to evaluate applications for research.

MS Information

A video has been produced regarding the work of the foundation.  If you are interested in viewing this video, please contact us.

The following medical information is taken from the Foundation video:

According to Professor Pollard, MS is the commonest neurological cause of long term disability in young people.  It is common in our population, with an average of 40 people suffering MS per 100,000 in Australia generally.  In NSW alone, there are approximately 2,400 people with MS.

MS is generally accepted to be an auto-immune disease in which the immune system attacks and damages the central nervous system - the brain and the spinal cord.  Patches of inflammation occur and there is residual damage to nerve fibres and the insulating material around nerve fibres – the myelin sheaf.  80% of people who are diagnosed with MS suffer what is called a relapsing remitting course of MS which is characterised by one to two attacks per year on average.  After a period of this relapsing remitting course, maybe for many years,  most patients enter a secondary progressive phase.  20% of patients simply get worse from the beginning without attacks and remissions.

On past results, 50% of MS patients are confined to a wheelchair after 10 years and only one third are still able to work full time after 5 years with the condition.  It is, however, a very variable disease and some cases follow a very benign course.  Others, such as Trish, quickly develop very severe disability.  Disability is usually caused by one or more of the following symptoms: weakness, spasticity, loss of sensation, blurred or double vision, incoordination or problems with bladder and bowel.

The cause of MS is unknown.  It is believed to be affected by both environmental and genetic factors, for example, the incidence of MS in sunny north Queensland is 11 per 100,000 whereas in Tasmania, the incidence is 70 per 100,000 - clearly there are some environmental factors at play - whether temperature or perhaps a virus.

The incidence of MS is not entirely genetically related as, for example, studies have shown that there are differences in identical twins - one may suffer MS and the other may not.

It is not known why the immune system attacks the brain.  There is a large amount of research carried on throughout the world regarding MS.  Only when we understand better the cause of MS can we devise an appropriate treatment to stop it.

Recently for the first time, drugs have been developed which have a mild and modest benefit for MS patients, however, many patients despite treatment continue to deteriorate and there is an urgent need for better treatment.

Trish Langsford suffered from end-stage multiple sclerosis for over four years.  She had the chronic progressive form of MS and no treatment which could be found at that time could have helped Trish. The Foundation wants to prevent  patients reaching this end stage disease.  New techniques such as stem cell transplantation may open up the possibility of transplanting cells which make new myelin however the inflammatory process must also be stopped.

Professor Peter Russell comments that the Trish Multiple Sclerosis Research Foundation is unlike many others in the field.  While not wishing to diminish the endeavours of other foundations in any way in their work in socially supporting suffers of MS,  it is the Foundation's goal to work towards the prevention and cure of MS and to support Australian research in this crucial area.

The Foundation is inspired by the tragedy of this remarkable young women, Trish Langsford, to redouble its efforts and support the efforts of others to cure MS. 

Failure is not on our agenda.

Legalities

Having established a company within which the Trish Multiple Sclerosis Research Foundation operates, approval was obtained from the Taxation Department, Health Department and Department of Gaming and Racing, after all necessary requirements of each authority were fulfilled.

All donations of $2 and over are tax deductible. 

The Foundation's ABN is 22 089 078 464.  

Thankyou for your interest in the Trish Multiple Sclerosis Research Foundation.  Any assistance you can give would be greatly appreciated.

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